A major railway line in Devon is scheduled for an emergency closure to facilitate urgent repair works after a giant sinkhole emerged dangerously close to the tracks. The significant geological feature, which measures approximately eight metres by three-and-a-half metres, opened up near the railway between Dawlish and Teignmouth on Saturday evening, directly linked to the severe weather conditions brought by Storm Ingrid.
Emergency Closure and Repair Schedule
The railway line will be completely closed between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot from 7pm on Wednesday evening, with services anticipated to resume at 7am on Thursday morning. This 12-hour shutdown is essential to allow Network Rail engineers to conduct critical repair operations safely and efficiently.
Service Disruptions and Alternative Arrangements
Great Western Railway (GWR) has confirmed that while this section is closed, services will continue to operate between London and Exeter St Davids, as well as between Newton Abbot and Penzance. To mitigate the disruption for passengers, replacement bus services will be implemented between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids, and additionally between Plymouth and Tiverton Parkway.
Notably, the Night Riviera Sleeper service will be suspended in both directions between Paddington and Penzance on Wednesday evening, with expectations for it to restart on Thursday. Passengers are strongly advised to complete any journeys between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot before the 7pm closure on Wednesday to avoid significant travel interruptions.
Extensive Repair Operations Underway
Network Rail engineers are preparing to work through the night to address the sinkhole, with plans to fill it using around 200 tonnes of spoil. The footpath between Teignmouth and Smuggler's Lane will also be closed from Wednesday evening to ensure the safety of both workers and the public, with a reopening scheduled for early next week.
Statements from Railway Authorities
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, "To continue to be able to provide safe and reliable services on this really important section of track linking Devon and Cornwall, we need to make this repair as soon as possible." He added that while the aim is to reopen the line early on Thursday morning, further inclement weather forecasted in the coming days could pose challenges, reiterating that safety remains the paramount priority.
Network Rail Route Director Marcus Jones provided further context, explaining, "Extreme weather during Storm Ingrid left a sinkhole near the railway that requires repair as soon as possible. Our teams need to close the railway on Wednesday evening for 12 hours to allow us to safely move heavy equipment to the area and start working to fix this issue." He expressed gratitude for the patience of passengers and local residents during these essential repair works.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure to extreme weather events and the rapid response required to maintain connectivity and safety across the region.
